An excellent book. Should be used in U.S. history classes. Wow. Incredible. Unbelievable. Zamperini truly is unbroken. All that was endured during WWII, the pain, suffering, torture & through God's help persevered. He never once gave up though it was rough! Chapter 38 & 39 were the turning points where Louie realizes God was with him the whole time! Love it.

As a child, Louis (Louie) Zamperini could not sit still. He was destructive, rebellious, daring, and a thief. His father was always having to apologize, or make amends for something Louis had said or done or stolen. Louis was a very fast runner, maybe from all those times he ran away after stealing something.

Because he was a fast runner, his brother Pete started to train him in track and field. Louie soon realized running was something he really enjoyed, and something he did well. In fact, he started training for the 1936 Olympics, which would be held in Berlin. Even though he was fast, he wasnt fast enough.

In the late 1930s, Hitler was planning to conquer Europe, and Japan invaded China. Louie joined the Army Air Corps in 1941. In June 1943, the plane carrying Louie and other airmen crashed in the Pacific. He and two other crewmen managed to get the life raft afloat. After 27 days, a plane spotted them. It was not an American rescue plane. It was a Japanese bomber.

Louie and the other prisoners of war were subjected to such brutal, sadist cruelty, its a wonder any of them survived. This is a story of surviving in the worst of conditions that would break most men. Its a story about Louie and the other prisoners of war who did not give up, and did not give in to those who did everything they could to destroy both the body and the spirit of these brave men in uniform.

Loved this book, read it in 2 days! It makes me sick that human beings are capable of such horrendous cruelty. But after suffering all that evil Louis still turned to God. It certainly puts your own problems into perspective. If I'm having a bad day I now think of Louis and know that if God helped him through all of that He will come through for me too. Such a powerful story, I highly recommend it.

"Unbroken" should be required reading for anyone interested in stories of American heroes. It's also the story of stamina and courage in the face of unbelievable human cruelty. Although it's easy to wonder where God is / was during this horrific period in American history and experience, the reader better understands the larger reasons for human suffering and the lessons we draw from adversity. Put this book on the top of your summer reading list!